New Delhi: Undeterred by the Supreme Court verdict that said there were no "wrongdoings" in the purchase of Rafale fighter jets, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday fired fresh salvo at Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing him of nepotism and helping industrlialist Anil Ambani.
"Our questions are simple. Why was a ₹526Cr aircraft bought at ₹1600Cr? Why was contract taken away from HAL and given to Anil Ambani? HAL is experienced and owns land", Gandhi said addressing a press conference called soon after the SC verdict.
The Supreme Court of India Friday while quashing a bunch of petitions seeking a probe into Rafale fighter deal saying it did not find any merit in allegations of corruption in the deal but regarding the pricing the apex court said its was not a right platform to discuss such details.
The Supreme Court also mentioned in its verdict a report by Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) on Rafale deal. Congress chief who was accompanied by Congress leader in Lok Sabha and Chairman of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Mallikarjun Kharge questioned the very existence of any such report.
"As per the Govt's statement in the SC, pricing details have been shared with CAG and with the Public Accounts Committee. Mr. Kharge is chairman of PAC and he says, no such report regarding pricing was submitted", he said.
"I do not understand how the Supreme Court judgement was based on a falsehood. Now the govt should answer where this CAG report is. ₹30,000Cr of public money is at stake. Chowkidar Chor Hai", Rahul said.
Kharge also denied existence of any CAG report on Rafale deal.
"If a report is submitted to PAC, then it must submit it to the Parliament and then put in the public domain, which has not happened", he said.
Rafale fighter aircraft, a twin-engine Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA), is manufactured by French aerospace company Dassault Aviation. Rafale deal is a defence agreement signed between the governments of India and France for purchasing 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in fly-away condition as a part of the upgrading process of Indian Air Force equipment.
The Congress and other opposition parties alleged that Modi government has purchased the fighter jets costing more than 03 times the price the erstwhile UPA government had finalised. The Modi government however rubbished these allegations saying it had done nothing wrong.
The BJP on the other hand celebrated the SC verdict and demanded from Rahul Gandhi to apologise for "spreading lies".
""Truth always triumphs! Court's judgment on the Rafale deal exposes the campaign of misinformation spearheaded by Congress president for political gains. The court didn't find anything wrong with the process, nor did it find any commercial favouritism in the deal," BJP chief Amit Shah said in a tweet soon after the verdict was delivered.
For all the latest News, Opinions and Views, download ummid.com App.
Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.
SC Dismisses Rafale Petitions: BJP Celebrates, Congress Sticks To JPC Probe
RBI Coup A Sign Of Modi’s Authoritarian Ways: Foreign Media
Two Muslims contesting in Rajasthan's this assembly seat made sure none of them wins
How Rafique Mandelia's sure victory in Rajasthan's Churu assembly seat got spoiled
Arif Aqueel, Arif Masood win in Bhopal; Masarrat Shahid loses electoral battle in Sironj
17 Muslim Members In BJP Majority Dhule Municipal Corporation
Will BJP's Disaster In State Elections Result In A Storm? Quite likely
Indian Police harass, victimise and target Muslims based on their identity: CHRI Study
Afer Scoring A Hat Trick, Mohamed Salah Scores Another Goal - Gifts MOTM Award To Teammate
Fact Check: Has Islam Forbidden Women From Entering Mosques?
